AGE
Birth - 2
weeks
Weight –
75 – 225
grams
2 - 4 wks
Weight –
200 - 500
grams
4 - 6 wks
Weight 400 - 800
grams
(1-2 pounds)
6 - 8 wks
Weight –
700 – 1200
grams
(2-4 pounds)
DESCRIPTION
RACCOON DEVELOPMENT & CARE
FEEDING
HOUSING
* eyes and ears are closed
* face mask and tail rings
barely visible
* sparse fur, very little fur on
back and sides, none on stomach
* blunt muzzle
* no teeth.
* Umbilicus drops off at 4-7
days.
* Calculate 5% body weight for
stomach capacity.
* Formula 4cc – 11cc, 6-7 times
/day (Approximately every 3 - 4
hours)
* Burp after feeding.
* Stimulate to urinate and
defecate after feeding.
* eyelids have begun to
separate, eyes open at 19-22
days
* Ears open, detach from head
and become more upright
* Mask is fully haired. Overall
fur more dense and tail rings
prominent.
* Deciduous (baby) teeth begin
to erupt at about one month.
* Calculate 5% body weight for
stomach capacity.
* Formula (10cc to 25cc). Feed
5-6 times per day,
(Approximately every 4-5
hours)
* Burp after feeding.
* Stimulate to urinate and
defecate after feeding.
* Guard hairs appear.
* Partial visual, hearing and
interpretation of sound
developing rapidly.
* Deciduous incisors
prominent
* First permanent incisors
replace deciduous teeth, molars
can be felt
SPECIAL CARE
* 4-6 gallon plastic container with holes
or a screen roof.
* Put full container on heating pad
turned to low heat. Check temp in box
often and adjust as needed.
* Cover screen top with towel—keeps in
heat; reduces outside noises and light.
* Use sponge jar for humidity.
* Use fleece or flannel blankets inside
with a stuffed animal.
* 15-20 gallon plastic container with
holes or a screen roof.
* Put half (1/2) container on heating pad
turned to low heat. Allows cubs to move
off heat source as they learn to regulate
their own body temperature.
* Cover screen top with towel.
* Use fleece or flannel blankets inside
with a stuffed animal.
* Wrap cub in a soft blanket when removed
from box, keep warm.
* Watch for signs of diarrhea. Normal feces
will start out dark (from mothers' milk) and
turn to yellow when they start digesting
formula. Feces will be soft to toothpaste
firmness.
* Cubs will spend most of the time sleeping
in between feedings.
* Calculate 5% body weight for
stomach capacity
* Formula (20cc to 40cc). Feed
4-5 times per day,
approximately every 5-6 hours.
* Start introducing hard foods:
high protein puppy food; dry
cereals such as cheerios, grapes
cut in half.
* Small wire cage (3ft x 3ft).
* Provide cardboard hide box with fleece
or flannel blankets and stuffed animal
inside.
* Use Snuggle Safe or hot water bottle
for heat in den box, as needed.
* Food and water dish, small cat-litter
pan.
Space feedings so you can sleep 6 hours a
night for your own wellbeing.
* Calculate 5% body weight for
stomach capacity (1-1/2 to 2-1/2
oz).
* Feed 3 times per day,
approximately every 6 hours
without feeding at night.
* Continue introducing a
variety of foods: high protein
puppy food; dry cereals such as
cheerios, peanut butter
sandwiches, grapes cut in half,
etc.
* Medium wire cage, still indoors (3’W
x 5’L x 4’H). * Cage should have more
climbing sticks so cubs progressively
develop greater climbing skills.
* Provide den box that is easily
accessible for cleaning; use fleece or
flannel blankets and stuffed animal
inside.
* Food and water dish, cat-litter pan.
* Hammock and climbing stick.
* Beginning to urinate and defecate in
latrine area of cage.
* Very active, curious, playful, running,
climbing, sometimes rough fighting
characterized by growling, squealing,
wrestling and imitation of adult defense
postures
* Raccoon proof your nursery so cubs can
run outside of the cage while you are
cleaning and feeding.
* Watch for signs of diarrhea. Normal feces
will start out dark (from mothers' milk) and
turn to yellow when they start digesting
formula. Feces will be soft to toothpaste
firmness.
* Cubs become more active and begin to
vocalize more.
* Will begin to spider walk (does not lift
belly off ground).
* Vocalizations include whoop, churring,
growling, and an alarm snort
* Coordination improving, beginning to
walk, run, and climb.
4-6 Weeks
 Start vaccination schedule. First vaccines can be given as early as 4 weeks old. Two separate vaccines are needed: Merial Recombitek C3 or
C4/CV - MLV that protects against Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper and Merial Pure Vax Feline 4 - MVL that protects against Feline
Panleukopenia (Reference: http://www.kywildlife.org/uploads/IWRC_Raccoon_Parvo_2011.pdf). Repeat the set of vaccines in 3 weeks; You want 2
or 3 sets of vaccinations before they go to your outdoor cage. Final vaccines before release (at >16 wks of age)
6 - 8 Weeks
 Start worming schedule. Mix Panacur in flavored yogurt. If using liquid, draw up required dosage of Panacur in 3cc syringe, draw up flavored
yogurt. This will hide the flavor of the Panacur and the syringe makes it easy to give. Worming with Panacur is done as a series of one dose each
three (3) days in a row. Begin series 1 at 6 weeks; series 2 at 8 weeks; series 3 at 11 weeks; series 4 at 14 weeks; thereafter a series every 4 weeks is
recommended while the raccoon is in rehabilitative care for the REHABILITATOR’S protection.
AGE
DESCRIPTION
FEEDING
HOUSING
SPECIAL CARE
*
Permanent
second
incisors
*
Drinking
3-4
ounces
of
*
Still
indoors
in
a
cage
with
a
hide
box
* Cubs are playing games of pounce and
9 - 12 wks
Weight 4 to 8
pounds
12+ weeks
Weight 8 – 14 +
pounds
and first molars erupt at approx
2-1/2 months. Permanent third
incisors erupt at 3 months.
Permanent canines at 3-1/2
months.
* Body is filling out and
gaining muscle tone.
* Face is full.
They will gain approximately
half (½) pound per week. They
should be 16 to 20 pounds when
you release them in the fall so
that they are prepared for the
winter.
formula and still hungry for
food in dish.
* Reduce bottle feedings to
twice a day. When weaning the
cubs down from 3-4 bottle
feedings to 2, substitute a dinner
of puppy chow with added foods
such as scrambled eggs,
hotdogs, chicken, dry cereals
such as cheerios, peanut butter
sandwiches, fruits and
vegetables.
* Provide fresh food and water
twice daily. The amounts will
need to be increased often, until
there is some left over.
* Introduce as many natural
food items as possible.
Examples: strawberries,
raspberries, wild grapes,
blueberries, garden vegetables,
crickets, earthworms, grubs,
minnows, acorns, hazelnuts, etc.
with fleece or flannel blankets inside.
* Food and water dish, cat-litter pan.
* Hammock and climbing stick. Add
assortment of toys/alternate toys. Water
dish for playing in.
At approximately 12 weeks old or 6-8
pounds and weaned, move the cubs to an
outdoor cage.
* They should be in an outdoor care.
Minimum standards suggest
6’Wx8’Lx6’H.
* They will learn climbing skills, adapt
to outdoor noises, and acclimate to
weather conditions while in the outdoor
cage.
* The cage must have a suitable nesting
box that is elevated off the ground and
lots of logs and large branches for
climbing up and down; swings to learn
balance; large water dish for climbing in
and floating berries and nuts in; straw,
decomposing wood, or dirt to dig in.
hide-and-seek with you and each other.
* Explores room outside of cage: running,
scrambling, hiding, exploring buckets, etc.
“Raccoon proof” your area.
* Displays defensive posture: raised hair on
back, growling, hiding, and aggressiveness
towards people other than you.
* They begin weaning themselves from the
bottle and it is obvious they are content with
the food in their dish as they don’t rush the
bottle or eat from it regularly.
* Less frequent human visits, but cubs will
still be very friendly. It is all right for them
to continue to play with you and get hugs.
Raccoons may stay with their mother/family
for one year or more in the wild. Family
bonds are important for their social
development. The trust is also better for you
as you will need to continue their
vaccinations and worming schedule.
* Should have minimum 2 each of Parvo
and Distemper vaccines before release.
* Release at approximately 20-24 weeks.
NOTE: cubs are individuals and you need to
assess their readiness for release.
Approximate Conversions - For formula/liquids: 30 cc = 30 ml = 1 oz; For weight: 1 kg = 1000 grams = 2.2 pounds; 454 g = 1 pound
Calculate stomach capacity - Stomach capacity for a raccoon is 5% body weight.
Example: Convert body weight to grams. A 400g raccoon cub has a stomach capacity of 20 cc
Take the 400 gram number; drop the last digit so 400 becomes 40; Divide 40 by 2 equals 20; Therefore a 400 gram raccoon cub has a
20cc stomach capacity.
By Laura Lund, Revised 3-23-2013